Chap. XXIV. KODAKARNAL. 401 



naceous plants commence, amongst which I observed the 

 Hymenodictymi excehum. At GOOO feet the steep ascent is 

 covered with long grass, and trees are confined to sheltered 

 hollows and ravines. After reaching the plateau it is 

 necessary to scale a second steep gi-assy slope before arri^-ing 

 at the settlement of Kodakarnal, which is 7230 feet above 

 the level of the sea. Kodakarnal consists of eight houses, 

 built along the crests of undulating hills, and one of the 

 inner slopes is clothed with a wood of fine trees and tree- 

 ferns, from which the Tamil people have named the settle- 

 ment," Eound the houses there are gum-trees. Acacia 

 heterophyUa, Cassia glauca, fruit-trees, and hedges of roses 

 and geraniums as at Ootacamund. The houses belong to the 

 officials of the Madura district, the American missionaries, 

 a Mr. Clerk of Madras, and the French priest of Pondicherry, 

 who come here to recruit their healths, and for short inter- 

 vals of holiday and relaxation. 



Mr. Ames, the Sub-Collector at Dindigul, had kindly 

 given me the use of a house which he shared with Mr. 

 Levinge, the Collector of jMadura. It has a pleasant garden, 

 whence there is a glorious view of the Madura plains, with 

 their numerous tanks glittering in the sun ; and close to 

 the house a torrent of deliciously cold water babbles over 

 huge boulders of rock, and finally leaps in long falls down 

 the face of the cliffs, making a noise at night like the roar 

 of the sea. The house was in charge of a very original 

 old native of low caste, with a large family, named Chena- 

 tumby, who is a tolerable gardener, and cultivates his own 

 patch of potatoes. Chenatumby is a devoted Protestant, 

 feels a conscientious horror for the idolatry of the Eoman 

 Catholics, and intends to bring up his eldest son as a half- 

 caste, this honour being conferred on him by the simple pro- 



2 Korla, a sliade or r.nilircllri : and liornal, a jungle. 



2 D 



